HIBAPRESS – Rabat
Academic Said Siddiqi, Professor of International Law and International Relations at Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez, stated that Morocco is moving towards redefining its strategic positioning in light of the transformations in the international system, by diversifying its external partnerships and expanding the margin of its decision-making autonomy, while preserving its traditional alliances with Western powers and avoiding direct confrontation with competing powers.
Siddiqi explained, in an analytical article titled "Morocco's Strategic Positioning: How a Middle Power Adapts to a Changing World," published by the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, that the rise of China, Russia's return to the forefront of international competition, and the growing roles of regional powers have created new opportunities for Rabat, but have also presented it with challenges related to protecting its national interests and expanding its diplomatic options.
The researcher pointed out that Moroccan foreign policy was characterized by caution during the early years of King Mohammed VI's reign, in an international context dominated by the United States, before Morocco began, from the second decade of the 21st century, to expand its international relations network by strengthening cooperation with China, Russia, India, and Turkey, consolidating its ties with Gulf countries, and regaining its presence within African institutions, culminating in its return to the African Union in 2017.
Siddiqi considered in the article, which he described as one of his most significant contributions to analyzing Moroccan foreign policy, that this shift was not a break with Western partners, but rather reflected Morocco's transition towards a more flexible foreign policy based on diversifying partnerships without abandoning relationships that remain essential for its economic, security, and diplomatic interests.
Pragmatic Hedging Instead of Alignment
In his analysis of Morocco's options, the international relations professor highlighted that Rabat relies on what he described as "pragmatic hedging," which does not mean maintaining an equal distance from competing international powers, but rather expanding the margin of maneuver and benefiting from available cooperation opportunities, while avoiding the potential costs of exclusive alignment.
The researcher cited the example of Moroccan-Chinese relations, which have strengthened since the establishment of the strategic partnership in 2016 and expanded through economic agreements and initiatives, including participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. He noted that Morocco is keen, in parallel, to manage the pace of this cooperation to preserve its strategic relationship with the United States, considering that Beijing represents an additional economic and diplomatic option, not a substitute for existing alliances.
He also recalled Morocco's stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, stating that avoiding exclusive alignment with Moscow or the Western bloc reflects Rabat's desire to maintain balanced relations with competing parties and avoid direct confrontation with Russia, given its position within the UN Security Council and its growing presence in the Sahel region.
He added that Moroccan-European relations also constitute an area for applying this approach, as Morocco seeks to recalibrate its partnerships with European countries on the basis of greater reciprocity, benefiting from intertwined economic and security interests, and cooperation on issues of migration and counter-terrorism.
Regarding the war in Gaza, Siddiqi considered that Morocco faces a challenge in balancing its relations with the United States and Israel, on one hand, and its supportive stance for the establishment of a Palestinian state, on the other. He believed that Rabat's involvement in US-led initiatives, alongside its continued support for the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, is part of its endeavor to maintain diplomatic flexibility and safeguard its strategic interests.
The Sahara at the Core of Foreign Calculations
The researcher emphasized that the issue of the Sahara remains a key determinant of Moroccan foreign policy and a fundamental element in explaining Rabat's direction towards diversifying its partnerships and mobilizing international support for its position on the conflict.
He explained that Morocco's readiness to bear diplomatic costs in its relations with some partners is often linked to their positions on the issue of the Sahara, recalling the tensions witnessed in Rabat's relations with the United States, Sweden, Germany, Spain, France, and Tunisia in recent years.
According to Siddiqi, the issue represents both a constraint and a driver for Morocco's strategic positioning; it limits the margin of flexibility in relations with some countries, but also pushes for seeking new partners and expanding circles of political support outside the traditional Western sphere.
The researcher linked this path to the diplomatic developments concerning the file, from the US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara in December 2020, to the positions of Spain and France supporting the autonomy initiative, culminating in Security Council Resolution 2797 of October 31, 2025, which referred to the autonomy proposal as a basis for negotiations in the search for a final, mutually agreed-upon political solution.
Strategic Autonomy Without Changing the Existing Order
Siddiqi also considered that Morocco seeks to enhance its strategic autonomy without working to change the existing regional and international order. Diversifying partnerships, according to his analysis, does not mean seeking complete independence from major powers, a choice that is difficult to achieve given the limited material resources and the intertwining of economic, security, and political interests.
He explained that the goal is primarily to preserve freedom of choice, reduce dependence on a single partner, and expand the options available to Moroccan decision-makers, allowing them to deal with international transformations from a more flexible position.
On the regional level, the researcher linked this approach to the Moroccan-Algerian rivalry, stating that the convergence of the two countries' capabilities and the high cost of any attempt to alter the balance of power impose constraints on their strategic choices and make maintaining the regional balance a factor in the calculations of both parties.
He also noted that the modernization of Moroccan military capabilities is part of efforts to protect national interests and maintain balance, but warned that an unmanaged arms race could increase tensions and undermine regional stability.
Limits of Moroccan Strategic Ambition
Despite the wider room for maneuver provided by diversifying partnerships, Siddiqi cautioned that Morocco's strategic positioning remains subject to constraints related to the available economic and military resources, regional competition, the complexities of relations with Spain and Algeria, as well as the costs imposed by increasing diplomatic and economic engagement in Africa and other regions.
He stressed that the challenge lies not only in expanding Morocco's international presence but in ensuring that external commitments are commensurate with available capabilities, and avoiding investments or diplomatic moves whose expected strategic returns do not outweigh their actual costs.
He also warned that excessive ambiguity regarding strategic choices could weaken the confidence of traditional partners and rising powers in Morocco's intentions, emphasizing that the success of the hedging policy remains linked to Rabat's ability to convince its various partners that diversifying relationships is a complement to its existing commitments, not a substitute for them.
Siddiqi concluded that the sustainability of Morocco's strategic positioning will depend on the Kingdom's ability to reconcile its international ambitions with its actual capabilities, manage the constraints imposed by the regional environment, and transform the diversification of partnerships into sustainable strategic autonomy, while maintaining the relationships on which Morocco's security and prosperity still depend.
